The booming Florida real estate market has created a growing demand for high-end branded residences.
With buyers willing to pay a premium for luxury homes that offer a seamless fusion of aesthetics, functionality and technology, developers are rising to the occasion—and Molteni&C, the Italian furniture company known for its craftsmanship and design innovation, has earned a place in the Miami spotlight. We sat down with the team behind Four Seasons Private Residences Coconut Grove, for a look at how the designers are infusing South Florida luxury with Italian excellence.
Seamless Synergy in Coconut Grove
Ugo Colombo’s CMC Group is a household name in the Miami luxury scene. For Four Seasons Private Residences Coconut Grove, Colombo tapped into Molteni&C’s expertise to help express the unparalleled luxury and historic charm of the Four Seasons brand.
“Molteni offers the best quality production, reliability and ability to deliver that is available on the market right now,” says Colombo, who partnered with interior designer Michele Bönan on the project.
CMC Group worked with Molteni&C to create one-of-a-kind kitchens at Four Seasons Private Residences Coconut Grove. Molteni&C had the flexibility to provide the bespoke service the project needed—and, because the company had a presence in Miami, Colombo felt confident that they’d be reliable.
“It’s going to have materials, types of wood and finishes, that have been specifically designed and produced for this project that you cannot find in a showroom,” explains Colombo.
Developers operating at Colombo’s level need partners they can rely on. As buyer expectations evolve, Davide Cremese, Managing Director of the Americas for Molteni&C, has found himself working more closely with the luxury real estate community.
“Location, view and zip code are still important, but they’re no longer sufficient,” says Cremese. “Buyers want to associate themselves with a specific brand that is recognized around the world for service, design and lifestyle.”
Cremese and Colombo established their working relationship on a previous project, so coming together for Four Seasons Private Residences Coconut Grove was a no-brainer.
“Our process is to investigate what makes sense, as far as bringing new material and new design solutions, and to create something that is durable that will still have that ‘wow factor’ ten years from now,” says Cremese. “What someone expects to purchase from Ugo is a unit within a building that checks all of the boxes—and one of those is certainly the prestige of the finishes and the quality of the products that he uses. He doesn’t cut corners.”
Specialized Service Meets Long-Term Reliability
In a luxury branded residence, buyers expect to be able to customize the standard layout to best fit their needs, and a local team makes that easy.
“If they want to modify something in the kitchen, they can sit down with Molteni and say, ‘I want more wine storage and less pantry,’” says Colombo. “Our ultimate goal is to give the best possible quality and service to the buyers.”
The United States is Molteni&C’s first market outside of Italy, but the company, founded in 1934, has a long history and an impressive reputation. Molteni&C pieces, created by architects and product designers, are passed down from generation to generation.
The company brings that same innovation and reliability to custom designs for high-end developments.
“We are the largest company in Italy and probably the largest in Europe as far as luxury products in interior design, furniture and case goods,” says Cremese. “For this level of developers, we work alongside them and their interior architects or designers to achieve a product that is bespoke and tailor-made for that building.”
Molteni&C’s longevity and emphasis on quality give it an edge over its competition. While other case goods manufacturers come and go, Cremese thinks long-term.
“The goal in these sorts of buildings is not just to produce a product, but to deliver it, install it, service it and guarantee that level of service later on, during the lifespan of the unit itself,” he says. “We have a strong track record of that, and that’s why we are selected more and more.”
A Shared Vision of Success
Colombo and Cremese wanted each residence at Four Seasons Private Residences Coconut Grove to meet the highest standards of sophistication, quality and functionality—and they’ve connected the dots with a collaboration based on mutual trust and respect.
Reflecting on their work together, Cremese says, “Being associated with Ugo Colombo, his company, and his buildings, is a tremendous advertisement for as a statement of quality, durability, and reliability.”
To learn more about Molteni&C, visit their US website.